Why do credit cards use a magnetic strip?

[Gomer]

Such a pain. They wear out and really create a hassle. I have had people waiting on me that insist on having me swipe the thing repeatedly, even though I have told them it won't work. Some even goes so far as to put the card inside a plastic shopping bag and swiping it. Heck, I think that even worked once.

Why do they not switch to a bar code rather then that magnetic stripe? I imagine it has something to do with the fact that they would be easier to counterfeit. But how many places insist that that stripe work. Kind of defeats the purpose of an anit-counterfeit measure. Almost anywhere you shop has a barcode scanner, think how much easier it would be to just pass that over along with your groceries.

The only issue I see with this is "pay at the pump." I figure some sort of bar card reading technology could be adapted to the pumps as well though.

It doesn't seem like any over form of "smart money" is rearing its ugly head yet, so it looks as if credit cards are here to stay for a while. Why would they shy from a bar code? If printed on the card, I know they could wear as easily as a stripe... But they could be stamped in a fashion similar to that of the numbers.

Thoughts on the matter?

[Beemer]

So that the spouse can place a magnet on the card over night and solve their bad credit problem by morning.

Cheers!

[JacobM5727]

i agree with beemer, but i also think that (maybe) its because if the card just had a barcode on it, it would wear off faster then a magnetic stip would wear out and maybe also because if the barcode was raised like the name, the swiper would have to be changed

[This message has been edited by JacobM5727 (edited 07-18-2001).]

[boran_blok]

ehm dont they use chipcards there ? our cards have stopped relying on magnetic strokes scince about two years (they still have it but that is for outside europe and in places where they dont have chipreaders)

chips font have the problems that magnetic cards have, they dont loos their magnetic capabilities etc ...

[Graham]

Once the shop repeatedly swiped my card, the transaction sorta worked, so they cancelled it and did it manualy, I got a phone call from the card security company that night because of the abortive attempts, all this after I told them it wouldn't swipe !!.
My new card have chips on them, as yet I dont think they are used, france have 'bin doin' it for years.

G